Stuck oil filter housing

Even after decades of doing my own maintenance and "enhancements" of small & large block V8s and V2s (Harleys), I still watched several How-To videos on changing the oil, since this is my first Toyota... just in case there was something unique. I too had trouble getting the filter housing off. I was wondering what idiot used an impact wrench to tighten this thing on, especially since the local dealer did the first change (hey, it was free). It wasn't until I looked closely did I notice the small lock tab that was catching one of the fins on the filter housing. None of the videos I watched prior to this showed it. I'm also finding interesting that in 5 pages of comments, no one has yet mentioned it, other than a diagram where you can clearly see it. So it leaves me wondering if a majority of these issues with overly tight filter housings are due to not fully disengaging the lock tab.

Also a little warning for those using Amazon to get a metal replacement. I initially went that route as I'm not to fond of plastic parts for use on a hot engine. The one I received looked a little off. Though it had the hologram sticker on the box, and it was branded as a Toyota part. It didn't look right. So I got one from directly from Toyota and there were some other tell-tale signs such as obvious mold marks and the differences in the "TOYOTA" marking itself. I didn't break out the calipers to see if there were size differences, but I assume that there would be. Though I see many electronic counterfeit items on Amazon, I was not expecting this.

 

I had problems removing the filter housing after dealer did the oil change, and I did bend back the metal tab.

 

You will find these 2 videos very helpful. The plastic oil filter housing is quite good but misunderstood.

https://youtu.be/G_vl2AYe7Yg?si=NMZ7XWDb-y1TWdfs

https://youtu.be/FVA4RYql9KU?si=ZKcXn0ikmTCTtBqL

 

i used to like this guy because i think he is quite experienced and knowledgeable but after you watch a few of his videos you realize he is just blathering for as long as he can - YouTube $$. he takes forever to say something meaningful or non-obvious. i don't watch anymore.

 

Same here. There used to be some decent content but now it's more about the clicks. I still watch SMA for actual car knowledge.

 

Thermal expansion is not the reason the oil filter housing is difficult to remove. Not heat cycles. The entire engine heats and expands a bit, and all of it expands within what is scientifically known as basically the same fucking amount.

Do you really think the engineers that design engines and components are not aware of basic material properties?

The housing has a stop flange. Once the stop flange makes contact, stop turning the damn housing. Not contact plus half or quarter turn. Stop. If you dont stop the flange distorts along the circumference into a bellville washer shape. AKA a wedge. That's the pressure that must be overcome to loosen an over tightened housing, the distorted flange that is now loaded against the base.

This is the reason, the ONLY reason the aluminum housing acts differently. Even oil change monkeys are unlikely to tighten the aluminum housing to the point the aluminum flange distorts.